ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Cabinet
Cabinet approves Agreement between India and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to taxes on income
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval forentering into an Agreement between India and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region  of China for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to taxes on income.
The Agreement will stimulate flow of investment, technology and personnel from India to HKSAR & vice versa, prevent double taxation and provide for exchange of information between the two Contracting Parties. It will improve transparency in tax matters and will help curb tax evasion and tax avoidance.
Background:
In so far as India is concerned, the Central Government is authorized under Section 90 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 to enter into an Agreement with a foreign country or specified territory for avoidance of double taxation of income, for exchange of information for the prevention of evasion or avoidance of income-tax chargeable under the Income-tax Act, 1961. This Agreement is on similar lines as entered into by India with other countries.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Launch of Paperless Licensing process for Petroleum Road Tankers to provide ease of doing business
Boost to Digital India Campaign Championing the cause of Digitisation and Modernisation
Move to Curb Red Tapism and Bureaucratic Hurdle with faster response time
In line with the vision of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s Digital India and Ease of Doing Business, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade , Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has launched paperless licensing process through Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation  for road tankers for transportation of petroleum under the Petroleum Rules, 2002.
This is a significant move towards paperless and green India that will provide simpler mechanism, ease of living and business to the petroleum road tanker owners. Moving towards digitisation, the process will include filing the applications online. This will also include online payment of fees which will go directly to the concerned officer’s ID without any manual interface. Applicants, at each stage of processing of the application, will be intimated via SMS and email, whether discrepancy or grant of licence or approval. This will be in addition to the same being reflected in the applicant’s profile.
The new process will update the applicant at each stage triggering an e-mail and SMS immediately when the licence is granted by the officer concerned and is dispatched electronically. All this process will be without any need for printing and physical dispatch.
This extraordinary and forward looking initiative is directly going to benefit more than one lakh petroleum road tanker owners who together hold more than half of total licences issued under the Petroleum Rules, 2002. An added advantage of this move is that the authenticity of the licence can be verified through public domain available on PESO’s website. This automation is going to revolutionise the petroleum & gas industry benefitting it immensely.
Ministry of Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare
20th livestock Census to be conducted from 1st October in all districts of the country
All States and Union Territories to participate
The 20th Livestock Census will be conducted in all districts of the Indian Union in participation with all States and Union Territories. States/UTs have been requested to start the census operations from 1st October, 2018. The success of this novel initiative is dependent on full cooperation and commitment from all States/UTs Governments. The enumeration will be done in all villages and urban wards. Various species of animals /poultry birds  possessed by the households, household enterprises/non-household enterprises and institutions will be counted at their site.
The major thrust of 20th Livestock Census would be data collection through tablets /computers which aims to fulfil the objective of Digital India Programme of Hon’ble Prime Minister. The tablets procured under NMBP Scheme will be used for data collections of 20th Livestock Census for which necessary support has been provided to States under that scheme. A mobile Application software has already been developed by National Informatics Centre  for collecting transferring the data online. It is expected that the data collection through Tablets will be of great help in reducing the time gap in data collection, data processing and report generation.
The initiatives on collection of breed-wise reliable information of various species will give vital information for determination of threatened indigenous breeds and to take initiatives for their conservation. Considering this aspect, the 20th Livestock Census would be a breed-wise Livestock Census which will be helpful for framing policies or programmes for breed improvement. Breed-wise information of livestock and poultry will be collected from every survey unit. The breeds of various major species including poultry as registered by National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources  will be covered in the Livestock Census.
Further, the latest data on fishermen folk are available as per Livestock Census 2003 only. Therefore, the fishery part is a very important component so as to capture the information of fishermen families and infrastructure available for both inland and marine sector.
The Livestock Census has been conducted in the country periodically since 19191-20. The Livestock Census usually covers all domesticated animals and headcounts of those animals will be carried out during a specific time period. So far 19 such census have been conducted in participation with State Governments and UT Administrations.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
COVID-19 UPDATE
100.59 cr vaccine doses have been administered so far under Nationwide Vaccination Drive
15,786 new cases in the last 24 hours
Recovery Rate currently at 98.16%; Highest since March 2020
18,641 recoveries in the last 24 hours increases Total Recoveries to 3,35,14,449
Active cases account for less than 1% of total cases, currently at 0.51%; Lowest since March 2020
India's Active caseload stands at 1,75,745; lowest in 232 days
Weekly Positivity Rate  less than 3% for last 119 days
Daily positivity rate  less than 3% for last 53 days
59.70 cr Total Tests conducted so far
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Delhi records lowest average Air Quality Index  for 7-month period January to July in 2023 compared to the corresponding period for the last 04 years starting from 2019 
The average AQI of Delhi for this 07-month period was 182.6 in 2023, 209 in 2022, 204.7 in 2021, 159 in 2020 and 215.3 in 2019;
Delhi records its lowest daily average AQI in the current year on 29th July with a recorded AQI of 59;
During July of 2023, Delhi experienced all 31 days with 'Good to Moderate' air quality days;
The 31 days period of July in 2023 has also witnessed reduction in daily average PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations;
Daily average PM2.5 concentration in Delhi for July, 2023 stood at 35µg/m3 as against 36 in 2022, 40 in 2021, 34 in 2020 and 47 in 2019;
Delhi records its lowest average Air Quality Index  during the July of 2023 compared to the corresponding period of last 04 years from 2019. During July of current year, Delhi experienced all 31 days with 'Good to Moderate' Air Quality Index .
The number of ‘Good to Moderate’ Air Quality Days for the 31 days period  was 26 in the year 2019; 31 in 2020; 29 in 2021; 31 in 2022; and 31 in the current year 2023.
The monthly average AQI for Delhi during this period also remained in ‘Satisfactory’ AQI category i.e., 83.71. Delhi has recorded its lowest monthly average AQI during July of current year compared to the corresponding period for the last 04 years from 2019 and monthly average AQI of July, 2023 is comparable with the monthly average AQI of July, 2020.
The chart below depicts the Monthly Average AQI for the month of July during the 05 years period :
During 31 days period of July of current year, Delhi has witnessed the lowest levels of daily average PM10 and PM2.5 concentration, as compared to the corresponding period for last 04 years i.e. from 2019 onwards and is comparable to the average PM10 and PM2.5 concentration of July, 2020.
A chart depicting PM10 and PM2.5 running average  for the 31 days period of July during the 05 years  is given below:
CAQM urges GNCTD, NCR State Governments, DPCC and SPCBs, regulatory bodies, industries, RWAs, civil society organizations and citizens to further contribute towards clean air to reduce integrated exposure and protect public health.
The Commission reaffirms its commitment to monitor enforcement of laws, rules, regulations and standards by enforcement and implementing agencies as well as support initiatives that foster public awareness about the significance of clean air. CAQM is working closely with various stakeholders concerned to take effective measures for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution and to improve the overall air quality in the National Capital Region.
Ministry of Minority Affairs
Rent of Waqf Properties
The government in order to rationalize and improve the income from the Waqf properties has brought in changes through amendments in the the Waqf Act, 1995 in the administration of Waqfs with a view to enhance the income of Waqf Institutions by making best of use of Waqf properties in a commercial way. Further, under section 56 of Waqf Act, 1995 as amended the Central Government has been empowered to make Waqf Properties Lease Rule. Accordingly the Waqf Properties Lease Rules, 2014 was made and in force since June 2014 in order to regularize the rent of the Waqf properties and all the State Waqf Boards  have been accordingly informed too. However, as per provisions of Section 32 of the Waqf Act 1995 as amended, general superintendence of all Waqf properties in a State is vested with the State Waqf Board  and the Waqf Board is empowered to manage the Waqf property.
This Ministry is implementing two schemes namely i) Qaumi Waqf Board Taraqqiati Scheme  and ii) Shahari Waqf Sampatti Vikas Yojana  through Central Waqf Council . Under QWBTS financial assistance is provided to SWBs for deployment of manpower viz. Assistant Programmer, GIS-Digitization supervisor, Mutation Assistants, Mutawalli Change Support Assistant, Mutawalli Return Support Assistant, Leasing Support Assistant, Litigation Tracking Support Assistant, Zonal Waqf Officers, Survey Assistant and Data Entry Operator, setting up of Video Conferencing Facility, maintenance of Centralized Computing Facility  & E-office Solution for better administration of SWBs. A dedicated online portal called WAMSI  has also developed by this Ministry for management/tracking of litigation pertaining to Waqfs, computerization & digitization of records of Waqf properties, Geographic Information System  Mapping of Waqf properties to prevent encroachment. So far records of 7,94,875  immovable Waqf properties have been entered in WAMSI Registration Module and GIS Mapping of 2,44,006  Waqf properties have been done. For the first time 3,32,344  records of Waqf estates have been digitized. Under SWSVY, interest free loan is provided to Waqf Institutions/Waqf Boards for taking up economically viable projects on the urban Waqf land such as commercial complexes, marriage halls, hospitals, cold storages etc.
This information was given by the Union Minister for Minority Affairs Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Defence
Indian and U.S. Defense Delegations conduct Virtual Discussion on Defense Cooperation
The 10th Defense Technology and Trade Initiative  Group Meeting was held virtually on September 15, 2020. The meeting was co-chaired by Mr. Raj Kumar, Secretary, Defence Production, from the Indian Ministry of Defence and Ms. Ellen M. Lord, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, from the U.S. Department of Defense. DTTI Group Meetings are normally held twice a year, alternating between India and the United States. This time, meeting was held via VTC on account of COVID pandemic.
The aim of the DTTI Group is to bring sustained leadership focus to the bilateral defense trade relationship and create opportunities for co-production and co-development of defense equipment. Four Joint Working Groups focused on land, naval, air, and aircraft carrier technologies have been established under DTTI to promote mutually agreed projects within their domains. The groups reported to the co-chairs on ongoing activities and collaborative opportunities including a number of near-term projects targeted for completion on priority.
As evidence of their commitment to demonstrating the success of DTTI, the co-chairs signed a Statement of Intent  that declared their intent “to strengthen our dialogue on defense technology cooperation by pursuing detailed planning and making measurable progress” on several specific DTTI projects.
The co-chairs were also pleased to note that since the last DTTI Group meeting in October 2019, a DTTI Standard Operating Procedure  for the identification and development of cooperative projects under DTTI has been completed. The SOP will serve as the framework for DTTI and allow both sides to reach and document a mutual understanding on how to define and achieve success. A publicly releasable extract of key elements of the SOP was also published in July as the DTTI Initial Guidance for Industry, and distributed through Indian and U.S. industry associations.
Further efforts to encourage U.S. and Indian industry to cooperatively develop next-generation technologies under the DTTI Group were highlighted by the 1st DTTI Industry Collaboration Forum , which took place virtually on September 10, 2020. The DICF was convened by Shri Sanjay Jaju, Joint Secretary , Mr. Michael Vaccaro, Director, International Armaments Cooperation, and Ms. Amy Murray, Director, Small Business Programs. This forum offers an opportunity for Indian and U.S. industry to be directly involved in DTTI and facilitates dialogue between government and industry on issues that impact industrial collaboration. The results of the discussion were briefed to the DTTI Group co-chairs.
ABB/Nampi/KA/DK/Savvy/ADA/SK
(
PIB Headquarters
Kochi Area Boat Pulling Regatta-2020 tomorrow
Kochi Area Boat Pulling Regatta-2020 will be conducted by Southern Naval Command tomorrow . The races would be held on “Whaler” boat in the Ernakulam Channel between Venduruthy Vikrant bridge and North Jetty of the Naval Base. Six teams from the Southern Naval Command would compete in four categories for the prestigious boat pulling trophy.
Vice Admiral Anil Kumar Chawla, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command would be the Chief Guest and would be giving away prizes to the winners.
IE/BSN
(Visitor Counter : 15
Ministry of Steel
Demand for Domestic Iron and Steel Products Witnesses Substantial Growth
Boost for Make in India Initiative
Efforts made by the Ministry of Steel have ensured placement of orders for domestic iron and steel to the tune of Rs. 8129 crore from June 2017 to October 2018. Ministry of Railways, ONGC, GAIL, EIL and HPCL have placed orders with domestic iron and steel manufactures for various categories of rails, pipe and tubes. These products were earlier imported but are now being procured from domestic producers. Discussions are on with Ministry of Railways to increase consumption of rails manufactured indigenously either through SAIL or other domestic manufactures. Efforts are also being made to on-board sectors like Defence and CPWD so that use of steel products manufactured in India grows.
In order to give preference to domestically manufactured iron and steel products  in Government procurement, Ministry of Steel promulgated a Policy, which was notified on 8th May 2017. To ensure that the Policy is implemented in letter and spirit, a Standing Committee under the Ministry of Steel chaired by Secretary Steel has been constituted to oversee its implementation. A Grievance Committee has also been constituted to carry out grievance redressal which may arise while implementing the DMI&SP Policy.
The Ministry of Steel organized a Conclave in Bhubaneswar in October this year for domestic manufacturers of capital goods meant for the steel sector. In this Conclave MoUsworth Rs.39400 crore were signed between foreign capital goods manufacturers and technology providers with Indian capital goods manufacturers and steel producers. This will result in the manufacturing of capital goods for the steel sector within the country in the next 4 years. This is a major shot in the arm for the ‘Make in India’ initiative of the Government of India.
Ministry of Finance
Revenue Deficit Grant of Rs.9,871 crore released to 17 States
Total Revenue Deficit Grant of Rs. 69,097.00 crore released to States in current financial year
The Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance has released 7th monthly installment of Post Devolution Revenue Deficit  Grant of Rs. 9,871.00 crore to the States here today. With the release of this installment, a total amount of Rs. 69,097.00 crore has been released to eligible States as Post Devolution Revenue Deficit Grant  in the current financial year.
State-wise details of the grant released this month and total amount of PDRD Grant released to the States in 2021-22 is annexed.
The Post Devolution Revenue Deficit Grant is provided to the States under Article 275 of the Constitution. The grants are released as per the recommendations of the Fifteenth Finance Commission in monthly installments to meet the gap in Revenue Accounts of the States post devolution. The Commission has recommended PDRD grants to 17 States during 2021-22.
The eligibility of States to receive this grant and the quantum of grant was decided by the Commission based on the gap between assessment of revenue and expenditure of the State after taking into account the assessed devolution for the financial year 2021-22.
The Fifteenth Finance Commission has recommended a total Post Devolution Revenue Deficit Grant of Rs. 1,18,452 crore to 17 States in the financial year 2021-22. Out of this, an amount of Rs. 69,097.00 crore  has been released so far.
The States recommended for PDRD Grant by the Fifteenth Finance Commission are: Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.
State-wise Post Devolution Revenue Deficit Grants Released
|
|
S.No.
|
|
Name of State
|
|
Amount released in October 2021


|
|
Total amount released during 2021-22

|
|
-
|
|
Andhra Pradesh
|
|
1438.08
|
|
10066.58
|
|
-
|
|
Assam
|
|
531.33
|
|
3719.33
|
|
-
|
|
Haryana
|
|
11.00
|
|
77.00
|
|
-
|
|
Himachal Pradesh
|
|
854.08
|
|
5978.58
|
|
-
|
|
Karnataka
|
|
135.92
|
|
951.42
|
|
-
|
|
Kerala
|
|
1657.58
|
|
11603.08
|
|
-
|
|
Manipur
|
|
210.33
|
|
1472.33
|
|
-
|
|
Meghalaya
|
|
106.58
|
|
746.08
|
|
-
|
|
Mizoram
|
|
149.17
|
|
1044.17
|
|
-
|
|
Nagaland
|
|
379.75
|
|
2658.25
|
|
-
|
|
Punjab
|
|
840.08
|
|
5880.58
|
|
-
|
|
Rajasthan
|
|
823.17
|
|
5762.17
|
|
-
|
|
Sikkim
|
|
56.50
|
|
395.50
|
|
-
|
|
Tamil Nadu
|
|
183.67
|
|
1285.67
|
|
-
|
|
Tripura
|
|
378.83
|
|
2651.83
|
|
-
|
|
Uttarakhand
|
|
647.67
|
|
4533.67
|
|
-
|
|
West Bengal
|
|
1467.25
|
|
10270.75
|
|
Total
|
|
9,871.00
|
|
69097.00
Ministry of Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare
Steps for Doubling Farmers' Income
The Government constituted an Inter-ministerial Committee in April, 2016 to examine issues relating to “Doubling of Farmers Income”  and recommend strategies to achieve the same. The Committee submitted its Report to the Government in September, 2018 containing the strategy for doubling of farmers’ income by the year 2022. The DFI strategy as recommended by the Committee include seven sources of income growth viz.,  improvement in crop productivity;  improvement in livestock productivity;  resource use efficiency or savings in the cost of production;  increase in the cropping intensity;  diversification towards high value crops;  improvement in real prices received by farmers; and  shift from farm to non-farm occupations.
After acceptance of the DFI Committee recommendations, the Government has constituted an ‘Empowered Body’ to review and monitor the progress.
Agriculture being a State subject, the State Governments undertake implementation of programs/schemes for the development of the sector. Government of India supplements the efforts of the State Governments through various schemes/ programs. These schemes/ programs of the Government of India are meant for the welfare of farmers by increasing production, remunerative returns and income support to farmers. A list of initiatives taken by the Government are at Annexure-I. All these steps of the Government of India are for the welfare of the farmers of the country.
Further, the Government has adopted several developmental programmes, schemes, reforms and policies that focus on higher incomes for the farmers. All these policies & programmes are being supported by higher budgetary allocations, non-budgetary financial resources by way of creating Corpus Funds, and supplementary income transfers under PM-KISAN. The latest major intervention includes the ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat – Agriculture’ which includes comprehensive market reforms and creation of ‘Agricultural Infrastructure Fund ’ worth Rs. 1 lakh crore and allocation of Rs 500 crore for Bee Keeping initiative.
This information was given in a written reply by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in Rajya Sabha today.
Special Service and Features
ISRO successfully launches PSLV-C54 carrying an earth observation satellite along with 8 nanosatellites
The Indian Space Research Organisation  launched successfully PSLV-C54 carrying Oceansat-3 also known as Earth Observation Satellite-6, and 8 nanosatellites at 11.56am from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh on Saturday, November 26 2022.
The eight nanosatellites include ISRO Nano Satellite-2 for Bhutan , Anand, Astrocast , and two Thybolt satellites. Notably, EOS-6 is the Oceansat series’ third-generation satellite. This is the 56th flight of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle  and the 24th Flight of the PSLV-XL version with 6 PSOM-XLs.
ISRO's ever reliable PSLV rocket once again proved its mettle when the polar satellite launch vehicle placed an earth observation satellite and eight other co-passenger satellites in multiple orbits, in one of the longest missions.